The Heartland Initiative

The Heartland Initiative is sponsored by Ford Foundation. The Ford Foundation's Heartland Initiative is a $40 million commitment to bolster the work of visionary leaders and groups in the Midwest, South, Appalachia, and rural America to create better jobs, economic opportunity, and brighter futures.

This includes funding projects and programs that help provide broadband access, confront the opioid crisis, help people with disabilities, and reshape regions' futures with capital investments.

The Heartland Initiative - Ford Foundation Our work around the world Getty | Stephen Simpson | Zoran Zeremski The Ford Foundation is proud that our funding has touched the lives of most Americans and has supported organizations across the United States.

In 2022, the foundation made a specific commitment of $40 million to the Heartland Initiative, which benefits organizations and individuals in the Midwest, the South, Appalachia, and rural America. Its mission is to bolster the work of visionary leaders and groups in their regions to create better jobs, economic opportunity, and brighter futures.

Ford funds projects and programs that help provide broadband access to rural communities, confront the opioid crisis, help people with disabilities, and reshape their regions’ futures with capital investments. From South Dakota to Missouri, Kentucky to Alabama, these organizations and leaders are devising exciting and locally-based solutions.

We believe in investing in regions of America that have faced economic hardship and underinvestment but hold vast possibilities. That’s why we fund organizations that have the potential to become key actors in their fields.

Whether it’s shoring up the resilience of locally-owned businesses, supporting employee ownership, or investing in job training for people with disabilities, Ford is committed to supporting Americans across our country. Featured News and Stories Made in the Heartland: 90 Years of Partnership and Progress Born in Detroit, Ford Foundation remains dedicated to the American Heartland.

Through stewardship, civic architecture, and democratic wealth-building, Ford empowers local leaders to drive regional growth. By strengthening institutions and expanding ownership, the Foundation ensures a resilient, inclusive future.

The Infrastructure of Trust: How Local Civic Hubs Are Rebuilding Democracy Across Rural America Trust for Civic Life invests in civic hubs–locally led organizations that allow communities to come together– to rebuild trust and strengthen democracy across the U.S. Heartland.

Mississippi Engaged: Strengthening Democracy and Building Civic Engagement in Communities Mississippi Engaged, a nonpartisan coalition, combats restrictive voting laws through year-round organizing, community education, and advocacy for reforms like early voting. Their strategy emphasizes localized engagement to dismantle barriers and ensure every voice is heard.

Supporting Entrepreneurs in the Heartland Our Mission Investments team talks about economic opportunity in the Heartland with Ford-backed small business owners in Arkansas.

Video duration: 18 minutes and 4 seconds The Power of Appalachian Art With Willa Johnson and Sarita Gupta Willa Johnson, director of the film department at Appalshop, and Sarita Gupta, vice president of U.S. programs at the Ford Foundation, discuss heartland creativity and amplifying rural narratives.

The Heartland: Elevating Voices in Local Communities with Kevin Bacon and Gabe Brown Communities across America, especially in rural areas, have increasingly seen less money and more problems. With access to broadband, quality medical care, and good jobs dwindling, the heartland of America urgently needs attention. Who are the changemakers in these areas and what are the opportunities we can’t afford to miss?

Lessons From America’s Pastime: Support Organized Labor This baseball season and beyond, let’s all take a signal from these courageous leaders and build a fairer economy that works for everyone.

The Next Generation’s Declaration of Economic Independence Roy Swan argues investing in local leaders and worker-centered businesses offer a path to “Patriotic Capitalism”, addressing the current economic system’s failure to allow Americans to build wealth while staying rooted in their communities.

Ford Foundation and KKR co-founder’s nonprofit team up with universities to bolster Appalachian businesses Explore how the Ford Foundation and KKR’s George Roberts are scaling the REDF Impact Investing Fund. This will quickly grow social businesses that focus on creating jobs.

This effort tackles the lack of opportunity for millions of Americans who face major obstacles to employment, such as those with criminal records… Employee Ownership: A Path to Upward Mobility Discover how employee ownership serves as a powerful engine for upward mobility.

This article explores how it can help bridge the wealth gap, increase worker productivity, and strengthen local economies by turning employees into stakeholders with a literal investment in success.

Ford Foundation, RIIF Launch $5 Million Initiative to Empower Next Generation of Appalachian Investors The Emerging Appalachian Investors Fund equips local students as emerging investors, building a network of Appalachian capital allocators to drive regional growth UVM’s Leahy Institute Receives $250K from Ford Foundation to Boost Partnerships Across Vermont The Ford Foundation’s $250,000 grant empowers the University of Vermont’s Leahy Institute to expand rural internships and data services.

This partnership fuels economic resilience by providing small towns with student leadership and critical technical resources for sustainable community development and growth. Where are Kentucky’s angels? A call for investment in Appalachian growth Kentucky’s angel tax credit ignores the very industries Eastern Kentucky needs most.

By expanding incentives to include construction, ecotourism, and retail, the state can bridge a $70 billion capital gap and empower local entrepreneurs to rebuild the Appalachian economy. Heartland Forward to expand telehealth access in Arkansas, Oklahoma Heartland Forward is expanding telehealth access across Arkansas and Oklahoma to bridge the rural healthcare gap.

By enhancing broadband connectivity and digital literacy, this initiative empowers Heartland residents with essential care, improving health outcomes and fosters regional economic resilience. Ford Foundation Provides $1. 5 Million in Emergency Funding to U.S. Southeast The Ford Foundation announced today it will provide $1.

5 million in emergency funding to community nonprofits and small businesses for recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Southeast United States.

Ford Foundation, RIIF Partner to Invest Millions to Support Local Businesses in Appalachia Plans for $6 million in investments will attract new sources of capital to enable customized funding solutions for small businesses, supporting good jobs and wealth-building opportunities for American families Unlocking Broadband in the Heartland: A Harvest of American Opportunity Discover how high-speed broadband is transforming rural America.

This piece explores how broadband access ensures geographical location does not determine economic potential, ultimately creating a more inclusive and resilient American economy.